Wisconsin

Big Ten West title could hinge on the progression of Wisconsin’s Graham Mertz

Published

2 years ago

August 29, 2022

Big Ten West title could hinge on the progression of Wisconsin’s Graham Mertz

Graham Mertz did not look or sound like somebody whose each resolution is put underneath a microscope, whose each cross is scrutinized all through a complete state.

The Wisconsin quarterback was relaxed and loquacious throughout Massive Ten Soccer Media Days in late July in Indianapolis. Mertz referred to the Badgers’ standout group of operating backs as “my canine, man.” He chuckled when requested a few rib-smashing hit he took from Michigan’s Daxton Hill, saying, “Dax received me. That is my boy.” And as he confronted questions on previous struggles, he exuded confidence a few brighter future.

Possibly greater than every other participant within the Massive Ten West’s Division, Mertz holds the important thing to his staff’s possibilities of advancing to Indianapolis for the convention’s championship sport. The junior from Overland Park, Kan., is getting into his third season because the Badgers starter, and enchancment on his feast-or-famine play would bolster Wisconsin’s title hopes.

The 18th-ranked Badgers, 9-4 final 12 months, are the choose to win the West within the Cleveland.com preseason media ballot, however defending champion Iowa, the Gophers and Purdue are poised to contend, too.

How mercurial has Mertz’s play been the previous two seasons? In Wisconsin’s 13 wins, he has accomplished 64.3% of his passes for 1,884 yards and 16 touchdowns with 4 interceptions. Within the Badgers’ seven losses, he is accomplished 54.1% of his throws for 3 TDs with 12 interceptions.

“It comes all the way down to decision-making and the way can I change into a greater decision-maker?” Mertz mentioned. “That is the largest factor for any quarterback, and for me that is the largest stride I am making an attempt to make.”

Massive video games, huge struggles

Two video games stood out as particularly problematic for Mertz and the Badgers final 12 months. Within the 41-13 loss to Notre Dame, Wisconsin trailed 17-13 early within the fourth quarter earlier than Mertz misplaced a fumble on a sack that the Preventing Irish later cashed in for a landing. He then threw back-to-back pick-sixes, enabling Notre Dame to tug away.

Within the regular-season finale in opposition to the Gophers, cornerback Justin Walley’s interception of a Mertz cross early within the third quarter arrange Minnesota’s go-ahead landing in a 23-13 win. The loss prevented the Badgers from successful a share of the West title and a visit to Indianapolis for the Massive Ten Championship Recreation.

Mertz believes the strides ahead are coming, and he pointed to spring follow as his “aha!” second.

“It is one thing you’ll be able to’t clarify, however you’ll be able to really feel it. The sport involves you. You simply move,” he mentioned. “It is like the sensation you had on the playground whenever you have been youthful.”

Embracing expectations

If Mertz can refine his decision-making and seize the important thing moments, the Badgers might have an excellent season. They have already got a robust operating sport, led by sophomore Braelon Allen, who rushed for 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns final 12 months. Whereas their No. 1-ranked protection of 2021 misplaced some standouts, coordinator Jim Leonhard has proven he can rebuild a protection on the fly. The expectations, Mertz mentioned, aren’t a distraction.

“That is our objective yearly. That needs to be the usual,” he mentioned. “We all know what we have got, and we all know we have got to develop it.”

Mertz is getting into his second season underneath offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bobby Engram, and he embraces the teachings from the previous NFL large receiver.

“He takes a holistic strategy to it and does a fantastic job of speaking,” Mertz mentioned. “That is huge between a quarterback and a coordinator. If we’ve a play, it is like, ‘OK, what are we making an attempt to get out of this?’ And if neither of us prefer it, it is ‘Why do we’ve it in?’ It is that open communication to construct the offense collectively.”

Badgers coach Paul Chryst sees Mertz rising into the management function that is demanded of his place and his expertise.

“He is taking possession of the issues that he must do and does a fantastic job of speaking, working with the remainder of our gamers,” Chryst mentioned. “It is about all of us, proper?”

Mertz would agree, and he is aware of that the higher he turns into, the higher the Badgers shall be.

“For me, my gasoline is, ‘How can I do my job higher for my guys?’ and ‘How can I make them have one of the best profession that they’ll have?’ ” he mentioned. “That is what fuels me day-after-day. That is the enjoyable a part of it.”

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Wisconsin

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season in Wisconsin

Published

3 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Gas prices are the cheapest they’ve been since the pandemic, just as people prepare to travel for the holidays.

According to AAA Wisconsin, the average gas prices is $2.86 per gallon in the state, a new low since 2020.

”We’ve had so many disruptions in the last four to five years between Covid and then the Ukraine conflict that has sent prices either far down or bringing them to historic highs,” AAA Director of Public Affairs Nick Jarmusz said. “We kind of forget what normal is.”

He said the low cost at the pump is a result of peak summer travel season ending, an even supply and demand for fuel and fewer global crises.

”Right now we’re in a pretty favorable balance between lower demand and pretty plentiful supply and no real disruptions to speak of,” he said.

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season(Marcus Aarsvold)

People can save more money at the pump if they drive the speed limit.

”By sticking closer to the speed limit, avoiding aggressive driving in situations, you can actually increase your fuel efficiency by about 40% or up to 40%,” Jarmusz said. “Which can add up to pretty significant savings.”

If trends continue, he also said prices might drop even more. ”Really, I would not be surprised to see these prices continue to go down,” Jarmusz said. “I don’t think we’ve seen the lowest prices we’ll see this year yet.”

According to AAA the best times to travel before Thanksgiving on Thursday is in the morning hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Roads will be busiest in the afternoons.

Click here to download the WMTV15 News app or our WMTV15 First Alert weather app.

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Wisconsin

Game 12 Wisconsin football two-deep for Minnesota Gophers game Nov. 29 at Camp Randall Stadium

Published

11 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Game 12 Wisconsin football two-deep for Minnesota Gophers game Nov. 29 at Camp Randall Stadium

MADISON – A look at the unofficial two-deep for the Wisconsin football team heading into its game against Minnesota at 11 a.m. Friday at Camp Randall Stadium.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

1 – Braedyn Locke, 6-1, 205, redshirt-soph.

2 – Mabrey Mettauer, 6-4, 230, fr.

Running back

1 – Tawee Walker, 5-9, 218, sr.

2 – Darrion Dupree, 5-10, 205, fr.

Receiver

1 – Bryson Green, 6-3, 213, sr.

2 – C.J. Williams, 6-2, 196, jr.

Receiver

1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.

2 – Quincy Burroughs, 6-2, 212, r-soph.

Slot recever

1 – Will Pauling, 5-10, 187, r-jr.

2 – Trech Kekahuna, 5-10, 187, r-fr.

Tight end

1 – Riley Nowakowski, 6-1, 243, r-sr.

2 – Tucker Ashcraft, 6-5, 255, soph.

Left tackle

1 – Jack Nelson, 6-7, 316, sr.

2 – Barrett Nelson, 6-6, 302, r-soph.

Left guard

1 – Joe Brunner, 6-5, 313- r-soph.

2. – James Durand, 6-5, 305, r-fr.

Center

1 – Jake Renfro, 6-3, 302, r-sr.

2. – Kerry Kodanko, 6-2, 308, r-sr.

Right guard

1 – Joe Huber, 6-5, 310, r-sr.

2 – JP Benzschawel, 6-6, 312, r-jr.

Right tackle

1 – Riley Mahlman, 6-8, 308, r-jr.

2 – Kevin Heywood, 6-8, 325, fr.

DEFENSE

Line

1 – Ben Barten, 6-5, 308, r-sr.

2 – Elijah Hills, 6-3, 282, sr.

Line

1 – Curt Neal, 6-0, 290, r-soph.

2 – Cade McDonald, 6-6, 285, r-sr.

Outside linebacker

1 – Darryl Peterson, 6-1, 248, r-jr.

2 – Aaron Witt, 6-6, 247, r-jr.

Inside linebacker

1 – Jake Chaney, 5-11, 233, sr.

2 – Tackett Curtis, 6-2, 228, soph.

Inside linebacker

1 – Christian Alliegro, 6-4, 240, soph.

2 – Jaheim Thomas, 6-4, 245, r-sr.

Outside linebacker

1 – Leon Lowery, 6-3, 252, r-sr.

2 – Sebastian Cheeks, 6-3, 230, r-soph., or John Pius, 6-4, 250, r-sr.

Cornerback

1 – Ricardo Hallman, 5-10, 185, r-jr.

2 – R.J. Delancy III, 5-11, 193, r-sr., or Jonas Duclona, 5-10, 190, soph.

Strong safety

1 – Hunter Wohler, 6-2, 218, sr.

2 – Owen Arnett, 5-11, 210, r-jr.

Free safety

1 – Preston Zachman, 6-1, 212, r-sr.

2 – Austin Brown, 6-1, 210, jr.

Cornerback

1 – Nyzier Fourqurean, 6-1, 190, r-sr.

2 – R.J. Delancy, 5-11, 193, r-sr., or Xavier Lucas, 6-2, 198, fr.

Nickel back

1 – Austin Brown, 6-1, 210, jr.

2 – Max Lofy, 5-10, 188, r-sr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter

1 – Atticus Bertrams, 6-3, 225, soph.

2 – Gavin Meyers, 6-1, 198, r-sr.

Field goal kicker

1 – Nathanial Vakos, 6-1, 205, jr.

2 – Gavin Lahm, 6-0, 213, jr.

Kickoffs

1 – Gavin Lahm, 6-10, 213, jr.

2 – Nathanial Vakos, 6-1, 205, jr.

Long snapper

1 – Cayson Pfeiffer, 6-0, 205, sr.

2 – Duncan McKinley, 6-2, 222, r-sr.

Holder

1 – Gavin Meyers, 6-1, 198, r-sr.

2 – Atticus Bertrams, 6-2, 225, soph.

Punt returner

1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.

2 – Hunter Wohler, 6-2, 218, sr.

Kickoff returner

1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.

2 – Trech Kekahuna, 5-10, 197, r-fr.

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Wisconsin

Where Wisconsin's class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time addition of QB Carter Smith

Published

19 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Where Wisconsin's class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time addition of QB Carter Smith

Wisconsin football’s recruiting performance is far better than the current on-field product, to say the least.

Luke Fickell’s team has now lost four straight games after Saturday’s 44-25 defeat at Nebraska. It is just 5-6 on the season and 3-5 in Big Ten play, desperately needing a season-closing victory over Minnesota to clinch bowl eligibility.

There is more context behind that on-field performance, including the recent firing of offensive coordinator Phil Longo and historic blowout losses to rivals Iowa and Nebraska sandwiching hard-fought losses to top-ranked teams. That context doesn’t help the general trend of poor play.

But for those still optimistic about the Badgers’ future under Luke Fickell, the biggest calling card is his recruiting performance.

Wisconsin made headlines on Sunday when it landed a commitment from four-star class of 2025 quarterback Carter Smith. Smith is ranked as 247Sports’ No. 15 quarterback in the class and No. 164 overall player. Beating Florida State for his commitment was a statement for Fickell and his staff — even doing so after firing Longo just seven days earlier.

The addition of Smith brings Wisconsin’s class of 2025 to 25 total commitments — eight of which coming from blue-chip players. Notably, it rose the group four spots up to No. 21 in 247Sports’ national rankings.

The Badgers now boast the eighth-highest-rated class in the Big Ten, trailing just Ohio State (No. 2 overall), Oregon (No. 8), Michigan (No. 9), USC (No. 11), Penn State (No. 15), Washington (No. 18) and Nebraska (No. 20). The No. 21 ranking is an impressive follow-up after Luke Fickell finished the 2024 class with 247Sports’ No. 25 overall class and a Blue-Chip Ratio of 50%.

Smith’s addition continues a growing debate about how to weigh Wisconsin’s on-field struggles with its recruiting success. In reality, the 2025 football season will be somewhat defined by the performance of the 2024 recruiting class and another crop of transfers. If that strong recruiting doesn’t lead to improved on-field play, the clock may start ticking on his tenure.

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